Shock absorber



J. F. WALLACE SHOCK ABSORBER Feb. 9, 1937.

' original Filed Nov. 2, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 pl l 4 lil Mmm

IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

J. F. WALLACE 2,o69,791

SHOCK ABSOR'BER Feb. 9, 1937.

original Filed Nov. 2, 1953 2 sheets-shale; 2

BY @iQ/Www,

ATTORNEY.

.45 by ther '50 in the cylinder.

Patented IFeb. 9, 1937 SHOCK ABSORBER John F. Wallace, cleveland,

Cleveland Pneumatic Tool Company,

Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application,

696,408. Divided and ber 6, 1934, Serial 8, 1936 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in resilient struts, that is to say, shock absorbing struts. Primarily it is designed for use upon airplanes to cushion the impact of landing and to 5 absorb the shocks of taxying.

The present application is a division of my copending application Serial Number 696,408, filed November 2, 1933.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of novel means for regulating the flow of liquid through metering openings in such a manner as to automatically adjust the rate of flow to the load at any given instant, thereby making the operation of the device sufciently flexible to t all conditions in a highly satisfactory manner.

Another object '-is the provision of novel valve means for varying the rate o through a piston or other partition employed in hydraulic shock absorbers.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of those embodiments of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig'. 1 is an elevational view, partly in c vertical section,.of` an airplane strut.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary central vertical sectional View illustrating a strut embodying a modified form of valve.

Fig. 3 is a view similar modification.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Iig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a'piston 35 or other'partition embodying a modified form of liquid metering valve.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the same, and

Figs. '7 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 5, showing further modifications.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated a relatively long strut, comprising an upper outer cylinder I0 closed at itsupper end by a cap I I which is provided with a bracket I2 by means of which the strut may be attached to some element carried uselage or wing structure of the airplane.

At an intermediate point in the length of the cylinder, its diameter is reduced somewhat, and at this point a shoulder I3 is formed. Just above ,this shoulder a partition I4 is threadably mounted The wall of the cylinder below the shoulder is thickened.

The lower end of the cylinder I0 is enlarged to form an annular pocket I5, within which is mounted a packing I6 of a character such that it 55 will expand laterally when subjected to pressure entral to Fig. 1, of a further f flow of liquid- November 2, 1933, Serial No.

this application Septem- No. 742,955. Renewed May axially of the strut. Fora more particular description of this packing,.referenc./e may-be had of my PatentNe. 1,888,578 issued November :22, 1932. At the inner end this packing is engaged by a metal ring I1 which is free'to move in pocket I5, 5 while at its outer end it is engaged by a gland ring I8 threaded into the end of the cylinder. Around the lowerenlarged part of the cylinder I mount a clamping band I9 upon which are formed perforated ears 20, 2| and 22 for attachment to rigid 10 struts or tie rods by means of which the cylinder may be held in the desired position.

Within the outer cylinder I0 there is slidably mounted a lower inner cylinder 23. At its lower extremity the latter cylinder may carry a wheel spindle 24 upon which a ground wheel (not shown) may be mounted. Preferably the axis of spindle 24 forms an angle with the axis of cylinder. 23 slightly greater than 90. By this means I am enabled to incline the lower part of the ground wheel inwardly while maintaining the cylinders IIJ and 23 practically vertical, and, if desired, the wheel'tire may be caused to engage the ground substantially inv line with the common axis of the two cylinders.

At its upper end the side walls of the cylinder 23 are thickened to form a head 2 5, into which is threaded a partition 26 constituting a piston. 'I'he outer surface of head 25 is machined to form splines 21, and the inner surface of cylinder Ill from the shoulder I3 down to the pocket I5 is formed with splines 28, the splines of one cylinder interfitting with those of the other cylinder.

Below the head 25, the outer surface of cylinder 23 is smooth, and it is this smooth surface which is engaged by packing I6. Wli'en the-cylinders are extended as far aspossible, the head 25 engages the ring I1 and presses the packing against the gland ring I8, thereby expanding it laterally and providing a highly effective seal. When the head 25 is not in contact with the ring I1, however, this pressure is relieved somewhat, and the friction against the cylinder 23 is lessened, so that the relative movement of the two cylinders may take place freely. More or less liquid may leak past the head 25 along the interengaging splined surfaces and collect between the head and the ring I1 in the spaces between the splines 28, and upon a sudden movement of expansion in the strut, pressure is applied through this liquid against ring I1 so that the packing I6 is again expanded laterally, applying added friction to the cylinder 23 and thereby assisting in checking the rebound stroke.

The partition I4 is provided with a plurality of holes 29 of small size, through which liquid is metered as the piston 26 moves up and down with respect to the partition. Under some conditions, these holes do not .provide suilcient relief for the pressure set upA under the partition. For such occasions I provide a larger opening 30 formed centrally in the partition I4 and normally covered by a valve plate 3| which is held to its seat resiliently by coil springs 32 surrounding headed posts 33 set into the partition |4 and held in place by a riveting operation. Obviously, when the pressure exerted upon plate 3| through opening 30 becomes great enough, the springs 32 will yield and the plate will rise, permitting a relatively rapid flow of liquid upwardly through the partition. This may continue for a very brief interval only or for a longer interval, depending upon the amount of pressure, and the opening and closing of the port 30 may occur more than once during a given upward travel of piston 26. Substantially this same type of partition and automatic valve is illustrated and described in my prior Patent No. 1,888,578 above mentioned.

.As indicated in Fig. 1, the strut carries oil or other liquid in the space between piston 26 and partition 4 and above the latter partition, the approximate level of oil when the strut is supporting its share of the weight of an airplane being illustrated in that figure. Above the oil level there is air under pressure, which tends to expand the strut and upon which the weight of thev airplane is supported. A combined filler plug and air valve 34 serves as a means for admitting oil and for air hose connections during the inflation of the strut.

Fig. 2 shows a modification of the construction of Fig. 1, in which there is a piston 26a having a v centralthreaded opening in which is mounted a tapered metering pin 35 that projects upwardly through a central opening 36 in a partition |4A, similar in construction, location, and function to partition I4. There are no openings through the partition |4A except the central opening 36. A

tube 31, closed at its upper end, surrounds metering pin 35, and at its lower and is provided with a flange 38 which normally engages the upper surface of the partition, against which it is resiliently held by coil springs 39 surrounding headed posts 40, these latter parts being similar in construction and function to the springs 32 and posts 33 of Fig. 1. In the side walls of tube 31 there are small holes 4| which have a function similar to that of holes 29 in Fig. 1, that is to say, they accommodate the flow of liquid through the parti- 'tion under relatively light impact loads, and all flow under the rebound stroke. When the impact is heavy and sudden, as it will be generally during landing, the air above the liquid in the tube 31 will be compressed sufficiently to lift the tube 31 against the action of the springs 39,.and liquid will flow outwardly between the partition I4A and the flange 38 into the space above the partition land outside the tube 31.

, The metering pin 35 functions in the usual manner of a'metering pin, that is to say, it progressively changes the effective size of the opening 36 as the piston 26a approaches or recedes from the partition. The tube 31, with its flange 38, takes the place of the plate 3| in Fig. 1, lthat is, it provides an automatic valve which may be employed where a metering pin is also employed.

The resulting action is somewhat different from that of Fig. l, however, because the tube is lifted by air pressure instead of by pressure transmitted exclusivelythrough an incompressible fluid. The, Y

-inner cylinder being. the upper cylinder.

what different type, that is, one in whichthe usual arrangement of the cylinders is inverted, the outer cylinder being the lower cylinder and the It is a desirable arrangement where the length of the strut must be restricted on account ofthe design of the airplane upon which the strut is to be used.

This construction includes an outer lower cylinder 42 and an inner upper cylinder 43. The outer end of the lower cylinder is closed by a cap 44 which is threaded into the end of the cylinder and carries a pair of ring brackets 45 to which is fastened a wheel spindle 46. The inner cylinder 43 has a cap 41 at its outer end which may be Welded to the cylinder and carries a bracket 48 for attachment to the airplane.

The outer cylinder is formed with an enlargement at its inner end, in which there is a pocket 49 for a packing 5D, with a' metal ring 5| and a gland ring 52 precisely the same as the corresponding parts in Fig. 1. This packing bears against the smooth outer surface of the cylinder 43. At the lower 'end of the latter cylinder, however, there is a head 25', in the outer surface of which are cut splines 21 similar to the splines 21 of Fig. l, the splines 21 being intertted with splines 28 formed onthe inner surface of cylinder 42 and extending from the pocket 49 to the cap 44. These interengaging splines` prevent swivelling, as in the case of Fig. l.

Inasmuch as there is no partition in the outer cylinder of this construction, the .automatic valve is mounted on a partition which constitutes a piston |4B. The valve itself might bev like either one of the valves shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but I have illustrated in this connection a dif.- ferent form of valve wherein a metering pin of a different style may be utilized. The piston is provided with continuously open holes 53 of small size and a central opening 54 of larger size. Around this central opening there is an upwardly extending annular flange 55 upon which is threaded a small cylinder 56 which is closed at its upper end except for a central port 51, andis provided with a plurality of ports 58 in its side walls directly above the flange 55,. The port 51 is normally'closed by a spring controlled valve plate 59, in which there is a small central opening 60. Within the cylinder 56 there is a piston 6| which is closely fitted to the cylinder, and carries centrally a depending tapered metering pin 62. somewhat different from that of either of the forms heretofore described. When the strut is at rest, the piston 6| is in its lowermost position, closing olf ports 58. When a small shock is encountered, liquid flows through the holes 53 and the piston 6| may rise slightly to permit some flow through opening 54 and the partially open ports 58. On the rebound, liquid enters the space within cylinder 56 through port 51, the plate 59 being unseated. The piston 6I is thereby forced down to its lowermost position, and the metering of liquid must take` place exclusively The operation of this form of valve is through the holes 53, thereby checking the rebound.

When the strut receives a heavy inpact, the liquid pressure beneath the piston 6l and against the lower end of pin 62 expels the liquid above the piston through the small hole 66 as rapidly as the small size of that hole will permit, thereby uncovering more or less of the ports 58 in order that flow through the piston may take place at a faster rate and in .order that some of the impact may be absorbed by the highly resilient air in the upper end of the strut. Wh-en'the impact is particularly heavy, the piston 6I may rise high enough in the cylinder 56 to bring the larger lower end of pin 62 into the opening 54, thereby retarding the liiow.

It will be appreciated that this valve may be employed with or without the metering pin. Its action is hydraulically controlled, as distinct from the valves previously described where the action is either spring-controlled or controlled by springs in conjunction with compressed air.

Its operation may be varied by changes in the size of the hole 6U, as well as by changes in the size or number of holes 53.

In Figs. to 8 inclusive, I have shown three other forms of valves which may be substituted for the valve I4 of Fig. 1 or the valve |4B of Fig.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the part |4C, which may constitute either the head of a piston or a partition like that shown at I4 in Fig. 1, has a central opening B3. Supported upon the part 14C concentrically with the opening 62, there is an open ended cylinder 64 with a horizontal iiange at its lower end that is anchored to part I4C by bolts 65 or the like. Near its lower end the cylinder 64 is provided. witl1 a plurality of small openings 66. It is also provided with a pair of diametrically opposite longitudinally extending slots 61. The outer cylinder 68, with an upper closed end, is tel-escoped upon cylinder 64 and carries a pin 69 which extends through the slots 61. Pressure within the strut above the part I4C acts upon the closed end of cylinder 68 and tends to hold 1t down, that is, in the position illustrated in Fig. 5. Upon the occurrence of a shock and the building up of pressure beneath rthe part I4C and within the cylinder 64, 68 too great to be relieved by the flow of liquid through the small holes 66, the cylinder 68 rises, exposing more or less of the slots 61 through which liquid flow takes place. This valve is also controlled exclusively by iiuid pressure in the strut.

In Fig. 7, the plate I4D has no opening therethrough except the central conical opening 10.

To the plate around this opening there is secured by any suitable means a sleeve or cylinder 1l having side ports 12. Within this sleeve there is a conical valve piece 13 on the lower end oi a stem 14, the-valve piece and stern being drilled axially to form a central continuously open passage 15. A coil spring 16 surrounds the stem 14 i and presses at its lower end against the valve piece 13 and at its upper end against a collar 11 which is threaded into the sleeve and has a smooth bore by means of which the stem 14 is guided. The tension of the spring may be varied by adjustment of the collar 11. 'Ihis valve functions somewhat like that shown in Fig. l, but it may be noted that when the valve piece 13 is lifted off its seat, the eiective area exposed to pressure is increased, and the closing of the valve is delayed somewhat. Variations in operioned, a partition ations are accomplished by the adjustment of the collar 11.

The form of valve illustratedv in Fig. 8 is quite similar to that of Fig. 3. The plate I4Eis provided with small openings 18 like the openings 53 of Fig. 3. It also has an annular ange 19 on which is threaded a cylinder 86 in which slides a piston 8| supporting a metering pin 82 which extends through a central opening 83 in the plate 14E.

The cylinder has side ports 84 and an end port 85. The operation of this device is quite similar to that of Fig. 3. On the rebound, liquid canl enter the space within the cylinder 80 above the piston 8l somewhat more'slowly than through port 51 with the valve plate 59 unseated. On the impact stroke, the piston 8l rises at a rate of speed more or less in proportion to the force of the impact, except that the size of the stream flowing through the port 85 is affected by the speed of flow, in accordance with a well known law of hydraulics, that is to say, if the speed of iiow is moderate, the quantity of liquid passing through the orifice at any given instant is greater than it is when the speed is considerably increased.

Variations from the described structures may be employed. Accordingly, I desire it to be understood that the scope of the invention is to be' regarded as deiined exclusively by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or the accompanying illustrations.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a shock absorbing strut, two telescoping members adapted to be interposed between the parts whose relative movements are to be cushioned, a partition fixed with respect to one of said members, said partition having an opening therethrough, an upwardly extending tube yieldably secured to said partition around said opening, said tube being closed at its upper end, said strut having liquid therein extending partway up the length of the tube, whereby pressure exerted suddenly tending to compress the strut cornpresses the air in the tube and lifts the latter oil its seat on said partition.

2. In a shock absorbing strut, two telescoping members adapted to be interposed between the parts Whose relative movements are to be cushxed with respect to one of said members, said partition having an opening therethrough, an upwardly extending tube yieldably secured to said partition around said opening, said tube being closed at its upper end and having a metering opening in its side wall, said strut having liquid therein extending partway up the length of the tube, whereby pressure exerted suddenly tending to `compress the strut compresses the air in the tube and lifts the latter oi its seat on said partition.

3. In a shock absorbing strut, two telescoping members adapted to be interposed between the parts whose relative movements are to be cushioned, a partition fixed with respect to one of said members, said partition having an opening therethrough, an upwardly extending tube mounted upon said partition surrounding said opening, means for attaching the tube to the partition permitting relative movement, said tube being closed at having liquid therein extending into tube, whereby pressure exerted suddently tending to compress the strut lifts the tube, said lifting of the tube exposing a further passage for liquid.

its upper end, said strut the y partsA whose relative movements are to beV cushv *Y liquidpasge when the strut is suddenly com' pressed lincreasing the ypressure "on the inside 15,7,

4. In a shoclx absorbing strut, t'wov telescoping members adapted to be interposed between the ioned,. a partition `iixed with respect to one oi' said members, said partition having an opening therethrough, upwardly extending tubular means mounted ipon said partition surrounding said opening, "said tubular means having a rtricted passage therethrough andv being closed at its upper end, saidstrut having liquid therein ex' tending. into saidl tubular means, said tubular means being adapted to provide 1` an additional of the tube.l t

'5. In a shockfabsorbing strut. two teleseoping members-adapted to' interposed between the parts whose relative movements, are to be cushioned, a partition iixed with respect to one ofsaid `members, said partition having an opening therethrough, an 'upwardly extending tube-mounted upon said partition Asurrounding said opening, means vfor attaching the tube to the partition permitting relative movement, said tube being closed at its upper end, said strut having liquid therein extending into the tube, whereby pressure exerted suddenly tending to compress the strut lifts the tube, said lifting ofthe tube exposing a further passage for liquid, and a metering pin carried by the other of said `teleaeoping members and extending into the tube through the opening oi the partition.

JOHN F. WALLACE. 

